For me, I am honoured indeed in that there has been allotted to me that same end which my Master chose.

To that cross let my sins be fastened and with them my body." Now the moon sank, but in the darkness men were found who dared to climb the tree, taking with them strips of raw hide.

They reached the top of it, four of them, and seating themselves upon the arms of the cross, they let down a rope, the noose of which was placed about the body of Hokosa.

As it tightened upon him, he turned his calm and dreadful eyes on to the eyes of Noma and said to her:-- "Woman, I do not reproach you; but I lay this fate upon you, that you shall watch me die.

Thereafter, let God deal with you as He may choose." Now, when she heard these words Noma shrieked aloud, for of a sudden she felt that the power of the will of Hokosa, from which she had been freed by him, had once more fallen upon her, and that come what might she was doomed to obey his last commands.
Little by little the soldiers drew him up and in the darkness they bound him fast there upon the lofty cross.